Congratulations to Aurore LENTZ, July's Member of the Month! Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist at TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA

Why did you join the Women Automotive Network?
Women are often invisibilized in our industry, so the WAN is a great opportunity to shed light on role models who share their powerful and inspiring success stories. I also really appreciate being able to connect with like-minded individuals who have an interest in and understand the paramount importance of accelerating DE&I efforts in automotive. 

Why is DE&I vital to you?
My passion for equity and social justice is certainly not new, because I had no other choice than to care. I realised pretty early on that the cards are stacked against certain people more than others. I was just a teenager when I started defining myself as a feminist. A few years later, I joined a prestigious university thanks to an equal opportunity programme for disadvantaged youth — from where I ultimately graduated with a Master’s in international relations and gender studies. As a young, queer, neurodivergent person, I was able to land a job in a multinational corporation precisely because my employer cared not only about my expertise, but also my lived experience to help advance DE&I. So, very simply put, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without DE&I policies. And I’ve made it my life’s mission to help create a world where equity and inclusion will be the default. For me, DE&I is a way of life.

What is the number one automotive trend you are keeping up with currently? By 2030, it’s estimated that Gen Z will make up for one-third of the workforce. The last Deloitte Gen Z Survey shows that 44% of Gen Zers have rejected jobs due to ethnical concerns, and 39% have turned down employers who do not align with their values. Climate change is a major concern for Gen Z. More than ever, they demand greater climate action from their employers while actively trying to minimise their environmental impact. They also feel strongly about mental health and inequality. Meanwhile, the automotive industry is typically perceived — and rightly so — as masculine, conservative and polluting. It’s also one of the sectors that has invested the least in DE&I. To future-proof our industry, we must adapt quickly to appear alluring to new talent and account for evolving consumer behaviours and preferences: Gen Z’s disposable income should indeed increase sevenfold by 2030. We keep hearing that the industry is on the precipice of a transformation, and I’m following closely how the leaders of tomorrow will be instrumental in helping it achieve true sustainability — for people and the planet.

Who is your inspirational woman?
Malala Yousafzai immediately comes to mind. We’re actually the same age, and I can’t tell you how empowering it was for me as a teenager to see a girl my age receive a Nobel Peace Prize for being a brave and resilient feminist icon. Still today I consistently keep up with her whereabouts. I would love to get to meet her one day.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome?
There has been so many pinch-me moments in my short career so far and I feel so grateful for each of them. I'm incredibly proud to be part of a team that have led transformative work and for what we have accomplished to foster a culture of belonging and psychological safety. I’ve been the catalyst for some breakthrough DE&I policies and practices – from guiding employee networks to successfully launching our first-ever self-identity and inclusion survey across Europe, to hosting a drag show in the office! It’s not easy to pinpoint just one moment. Founding and co-leading an employee network on neurodivergence has brought me so much joy, and amazing opportunities – one of them being the publication of one of my articles on neuro-inclusion. And of course, being shortlisted in the Diversity Champion category for the 2023 Women Automotive Awards was probably the pinnacle of my year, and a great recognition of my efforts to champion inclusion.

What advice would you offer to those considering starting a career within the automotive industry?
You don’t have to be passionate about cars. The industry is still very much perceived as a boy’s club where a passion for cars is required to succeed, so it can definitely be intimidating to start a career in the field if that doesn’t resonate with you. I would know: I don’t even drive. And I definitely never thought I would end up working for one the biggest car manufacturing companies. The reality is that there are many options available beyond engineering jobs, which probably sounds obvious, but it certainly wasn’t for me as a social sciences graduate!

In one word, what is the opportunity for women in automotive currently? 
Leadership. In the EU, it’s inevitable that the number of women in leadership will finally increase in the upcoming years, as businesses will have no other choice than to comply with national and EU regulations to achieve gender balance in corporate boards. There is enough data out there showing that managerial incompetence is the number one cause of turnover in the world, and that people are deeply unhappy with leadership at work and in society. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that men represent the overwhelming majority of leaders in businesses and politics and that the level of distrust in leaders is so high. We associate leadership with traits traditionally viewed as masculine and it’s often required of female leaders — more or less subtly — that they try and emulate their male counterparts. Yet, research also shows that women leading with empathy and kindness — traits perceived as more feminine — are successful. Women effectively lead grassroots activism across the globe. Peace lasts longer when women are involved in peace treaty negotiations. Team collaboration improves when women are present in the group. Female leaders are more likely to inspire people to go along with them rather than impose their vision. Having more women in leadership is the perfect opportunity to change the narrative and redefine leadership and power. Instead of trying — and failing — to conform to a male-dominated world, let’s reclaim leadership, the value of expressing emotions at work and building connections meant to last. I’ll end with a quote from Sarah Green Carmichael: “equality isn’t exceptional women getting ahead; it’s incompetent men falling behind.”